RANKS from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from the United States on Friday wrapped up a five-day training exercise with ranks attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force.

The training saw 35 participants who were split into two classes where they went through training on several fronts but with the main focus being on investigating and interviewing. The training formed part of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
The Crime Scene Investigation and interviewing and interrogation course was done by two facilitators from the FBI office in the United States of America.
The training covered areas of active listening which gives the interviewee the sense that they are being listened to and what they are saying is of importance to them, encouraging suspects and witnesses to talk, the type of questions which should be asked, how to protect suspects and witnesses, studying statements and being able to detect deceit.

One of the facilitators of the course told the graduating ranks that it is expected that they will use the opportunity of the training to be better able to carry out their investigating techniques. There was a call for the development of a mechanism between the FBI and CID so that there is a structured approach in the development of interviewing techniques.
The course which started on July 16 also saw the Force Training Officer Senior Superintendent, Paul Williams, taking part. In his remarks at the closing ceremony on Friday, Williams said that the training was very timely and does fit into the entire process of the Modernisation plan of the Force which is adopting several new ways of effective policing.
United States Ambassador Brent Hardt, who said that even this may be his last official CBSI event he is attending and giving remarks as Ambassador before his departure, explained that the training was testimony of the United States Government’s commitment towards making the Caribbean a safer place.
He also added the training proved that it was just one of a series of successful similar training held by the US for the Police Force over recent months. Photos saved in Graphics folder as Leroy FBI CID

(By Leroy Smith)